Switch.



1. r. CAVANAGH.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 4. |916.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gwuewfofc e/a/z/ 206W@ ay/z ozmew //\l N/ l J. F. CAVANAGH.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 01H14, 191eA 1,249,027.

nipulated for the different UNiTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.'

JOHN F. CAVANAGH, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 CONNECTICUT TELE- PHONE & ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC., OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

SWITCH.

specification of Letters Parent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application led October 4, 1916. Serial No. 123,785.

To all whom it may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CAVANAGH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden, New Haven county7 Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Switch, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.

My present invention relates particularly to control switches for automobiles,tlie general-objects of my invention being to provide simple and compact switch mechanism for controlling such devices as the ignition apparatus, lamps and signal mechanism. A special object of the invention is to incorp orate the control of these three functions in a single compact device, 'which may be readily mounted in place and wired up with the res ective mechanisms.

nother object, is to enable the mounting of the control switch in a convenient vand accessible position, andto so construct the device that it may be readil and easily `manotions.

In addition to these objects, I aimto provide a switch of the character set forth which will be relatively inexpensive, and which may be readily applied to: the ma- .chiiies without the need for any special attachments orvflxt'ures.

{In-.the accomplishment of the foregoing, I

construct aswitch with a rotatable push button for' controlling the lights and horn Vor other signal element and switch contacts 4for controlling the' ignition circuit, said ignition switch being usually and preferably operated by .key mechanism, and the pus button being arranged to control the lights by its rotary movements, and the signal device by its push movements.-

5. A special feature of `the switch is the puro-4 vision of it with'aserew threaded member in the nature of a nut, adapting thesame to be screwed as a single unit on the top of the l customary steering column.

Other features of the invention are special arrangements and constructions of the 'various contacts, the construction and control of the push button and such further features as will appear as the specification proceeds. attention being directed to the ac,

companying drawings forming part hereof, and wherein I have disclosed a practical commercial embodiment of the invention.

-trolled. l Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of fthe' In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation show` ing the switch applied to the head of a steering column, the latter being indicated only in d otted lines.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the switch,

Fig. 3 is a side View of the electrical conducting parts and indicating the supporting housing in dotted lines.

Fig; 1 is a view of the underside of the insulating base which forms the cover of the casing showing the contacts, and. terminals carried thereby. f

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the casing and key operated mechanism 'controlling the ignition switch.

Fig. 6 is a topV .plan view of the electrical conducting parts, illiistratingdiagrammatically the circuit connections and devices conswitch taken substantiallyon the plane of the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

The body of the switch illustrated,` consists of a-casing 10 anda cover 11, said 4cover being preferably constructed ,of insulating material to form an insulating base and support for the contacts, 'and the two forming, asillustrated in Fig.` '3, a housing for the severalparts. 4,

T o enable the attach ent of the switch to into a nut, as indicated at 12, screwthreaded to fit the' screw threads on-the upper end of a steering column, such as that indicated at13inFig.1.

The contacts'for controlling'the ignition circuit yare designated 1 4lan'd 15 and are shown as two strips of metal embedded or seated in slots' formedin Vsin-insulating supporting portion 16 dependent from" the top l1V VOne of. these contacts Mis shown provided with 'an vangiilarly extendii'igarm 17 forming a circuit terminal which may be provided with a bindingscrew or simply a hole 18 to receive the wire. while the other contact strip l5 is shown doubled'upon itself to provide a terminal end 19 having a binding screw or similar device 20, said two slrips being held in their seats by ar4 overlyiii-g washer 21 fastened by :i scrciv Q2.

AS indicated in Fig. 6` one of these contacts such as the contact 15, is usually connected through suitable circuit connections with a magneto, or other current source 23, and the other contact may be connected with a coil 24, the rest of the ignition circuit being completed, for instance, through suitable distributer mechanism (not shown), and grounded, as indicated at 25.

The circuit through the ignition contacts ispreferably controlled by key operated mechanism such as that disclosed in Fig. 5 and consisting of a plunger 26 for forcing the two contacts together,carried by a spring 27 and operated by a key 28, the bit 29 of which may bear directl upon the supporting spring 27. The p unger 26 is shown mounted in a suitable bracket 30 which also provides a mounting for the spring 27 and a seat for the inner end ofthe key. This bracket,` may be readily-supported in place by bossing it outward' into an escutcheon, Vas indicated at 31, and engaging this bossed out portion in ann opening 32 inthe side of the casing, this arrangement preventing sidewise shifting of the key mechanism and alug 33 dependent from the top of the housing engaging in a notch 34 in the upperedge of the bracket to holdl the saine against movement in other directions. -The key may be yieldingly held in the circuit closing position by indenting or grooving the spring 27 as indicated at 27 in Fig. 5, to receive the edge of the bitof the key.

35 designates the ush button controller for the lighting ant signal circuits, said push button in the illustration having a dependent rim 36 encircling the upstanding circular portion 37 on the insulating base and carrying a segmental contact 3S on the underside thereof for engagement with the several control contacts. i Y

.Current is conducted to this segment in the present illustrationiby a yielding spring contact 39, which forms the first one of three V40 and 41, respectively, constituting the socalled dim and bright contacts for the lamps. l

The horn or other signal element isco`n.`

trolled by the engagement of the'segmental contact with a contact 42 which, in the pres ent disclosure, forms a center contact and substantially encircles the spindle 43 which forms the pivotal support for the push button. This signal contact is, as shown in Fig. 3, mounted on a plane lower than that of the othercontacts, and said other contacts are preferably yielding in their nature and 'of engagement with the signal Contact.

l have secured this resiliency in the sup- 'porting contacts, in the case illuStrilted, bv

making said contacts from fiat strips of spring metal folded back and forth upon themselves a number of times, as indicated at 44 to form zig-zag springs, these springs being guided in their vertical yielding movements by the side Walls of the relatively deepsockets 45 in which they are seated.

The segment Contact 39, which carriescurl rent to the button segment, is shown pro- 'vided with an extension 45. projecting down thereby normally out *of engagement with the signal contact. To sound the signal de- :vice therefor, it is' merelynecessary4 to de-y press the button, the current How in' this case being 'fromtlie segment contact 39 and s'eginent38 tothe signal contact'42 and from the binding post 50ct saidsignal contact through a conductor- 51 tothe signa-l horn 52 andthence to ground. 4'Thesi'gnal terminal 50`maybe Aconnectedv with Vthe signal'V contact asrby -means of atubular rivet 53 Vpassed through theinsulating base and serving to securebotli -said'parts in place. -f The rising movements ofthe push button may be limited byastop' washer 54 secured tothe lowerendof the button spindle by a screw 55 which thus serves to rotatably confine the spindle to the l base and hold the segment carried thereby in engagement with the cirf cularly arranged ,ofV conta-cts.' i f The rotary move l ntfoffthepushbuttoii is also v-p'riaferably limitedQ-fas y-li'neans of fa` stop lugf56 z(Figa-2),91viro'rking* in aient-out 57 in the side of-'the 'circularportion of the insulating base and engagingthe stop shoulders 58 at oppositeendsftliereof.; Alsjothe push button is preferably yieldingly held in the'various positionsto which Ait is turned, as by means ofafsp'ringgon theiside of the base having an outstanding lug() to engage in notchesy 61 on the'inside `of -the dependent rim of 'thebutton.' This" spring-may `be' formed as" an integral 'extens'ion'of the center contact angled over the "side ofthe base. Suitable indications are preferably`- proi vided for the different controlpositions of the push button. lThus -i'nthc illustration '(Fig. 2)- the topv of the housing bears the words Oil Dimand Bright and the button carries an arrow or similar indicating,device- 62'ivhich.' when alinedwith the respective indications, producesthe v results indicated.

In the diagrammatic vew, Fig- 6. the button is indicated Ain the off position' with the segment turned so that it engages only the current supplying Contact 39. If the button is' then rotated right handedly to carry it to the dini position, then the scgment will be iii engagement with both the first contact 39 and the second contact 40 which will cause a supply'- of current to flow through theresistance or other suitable dimming device 63 connected with`- the second contact, through a conductor 64 to the lights 65, this circuit being also completed in the illustration through the common ground. If thc button be now rotated intothe final bright position, .the ldimming device will be short-circuited b v the engagement of the coiitactsegment with the last contact lHand the current. will then flow in full force to thelights;

A-The' many advantages of the-invention vwill be apparent. The advantage 'of having the entire`l control for the ignition-light and signalembodied in asingle conveniently operated device being especially'important and the ready adaptabilityof thisdevice to existingrsy'ste-ms being also of considerable im-'.

-andai.cbiitact 'segment on the'underSide of portance.'

the base. The wires can' 'fo'r' normally yieldingly Vsupporting the push button withthe' 'segmental 'contact out off engagement with the centercontact..f'

42. In"svs'-itc} i of the character described, a rotatably 'supported push bntton,ja segmental 'contact carried by saidpush button,

a centrallylocated contact for engagement' by said' segmeiit,and 'a series 4o f` contacts 'grouped about the center contact. and engaging the segmental contact to I'iormally'y yieldingly support the same out o f engagement with the center contact.

In a switch of the character'de-scribed.,4

1- aninsulating liase,a centerco'ntact ou said 65 base, a rotatably supported push 'button' J A feature of special importance is the prof vision. of the severalA contacts' with terminals consisting simply of'hol'esfp'unclied to v'receive the endsof.tlie:wi res.-jj This is a simple manufacturing propositinjand this f flat form of terminal enables the quick-.drop-f ping of the contacts downint'o their, in'. be permanently secured by doubling the ends of-'the wires 'through the holes and sealing them-with a drop of solder. In vpractice vthe 'wire iends are secured to the insulating basewith the j A wires attached` Y and thenapplied' tof4 the 'box or casing with fthewires extending through- 'the' nut; in the bottom dfthe casing and4 thefj' whole' -isfthen ready'to be steeringcolumn orf-other j VVlhat AI'claiin is: t "1.'jIn a switch'of, arotatably supportedjp'sh button, ai seg- 1 mental contact carried byisaidpushbutton. af centrally located 'contactfr engagement by Saidsment afSsi'eSeff'cntacts grouped "about said centerlcontact and normally en` gaged by the segmental tzoiitrin'., and-. mfeans above said base, a contact on the underside of said push button for engagement with the center contact, and a series of spring contacts disposed about the center contact, and engaging the push button contact to 4yieldingly support the qsanie out of engagement with the center contact.

lthe yielding contacts and adapted to be engaged by" thepusli button contact 'in.thc

' 'push increments of thepush button;

5,' In a s witcli of the 'character described, ajsnbstantially circular insulating base, a

' centercontazcton said base, yieldin side con- .tacts'onsaid lbasedisposed at 'hig er elevations than saidrenter contact, a push button pivot'ally engaged on the base andiprovided with 'dependent rim encircling the '.base.-

the push" buttomf adapted I. for` 'engagement Awith the `center and'side'contacts aforesaid.

'6., -Inafs'witch-'ofthe character described,

o n'said base, yielding side base, a' contact-'segment on the underside of Vthe push'fbutton adapted Vfor vengagement withthe'reiiterand sitlcj"contacts aforesaid,

ooperatng' stops'pnlthebasei 'and dependent nsitozwliicli it'-in'ay bevrotatedi* 47i -inj assai-itch 'of the @hamm described, substantially' 'circular insulating base, a

tacts oiisaid base-'disposed at higher elevations thaiisaidl ci'itei contact, a`push button piitotgilly engaged on the'base and provided hers engaging i'n notches. in the other of said ineinb'ers for `yieldiinggfli lioldingthe push may-be. rotated` 8.-1111 a switch of the-character described..

positions tot which it a substantially'circular base, contacts onsaid hase.` an angular extension on one. of' said contacts projecting out at the side of the base-,a 4button rotatablyv engaged on the base and provided with a dependent rim encircling the base and. inclosing the exposed portion of said angular extension, said rim haring seats to receive the outwardly projecting pai-t of the extension aforesaid, and a contact on the underside of said button for engagement with the contacts on the base;

9. In a switch of the character described, au insulating base,l a spindle on said base, a rotatable button on said spindle, a. contact' on the lower face of said button, a center contact on the base substantially encircling the spindle in the plane of the contact on the lower face of the button so as to be engaged thereby, and contacts on the base grouped about said center contact -in position to be also engaged by the contacten the button. 10. ln a switch of'the character described, the combination of a housing, switch c0nfacts in said housing, key operated means in said housing forclosiiig the circuit through saidl switch contacts, a center contact on top of the housing, side contacts groupedV about said center contact and one of said side con-v tacts being electrically connected with one of the above mentioned contacts in the hous-l ug, a push button rotatably mounted on top ofthe housingLand a segmental contacton the undersideof said push button -:for ico; operation with said c enter` contact` in they push-button movements of the! button ai'id,

the rotary" motie-1. y

with the side contacts in nient.V of the button.

11. 'In a switch of the characteridescribed;

a casing,l a key operated plunger :mounted in' said casing, an insulating base closingthe` top of said casing, cooperating con? tacts carried by said insulating base andA including -a yielding contactdispose'd thel plane of the key operated plunger'rcontacts Y mounted on ltop 4ofsaid in slatingbase', onef of said contacts being electrically connected-f with one of'the switch contacts aforesaid' an operating button' rotatably land'reciprocably mounted on the .insulating base,1an a contact carried by said button 'for'eiigage ment with certain ofsaid contacts on the top aiiiinslating baseand a push button rota-- tably confined thereto, a contact carried by said push button, contacts on said base, and means for yieldingly holding the push button in various angular positions on said base comprising a spring carried b v one of.

said members and the other of said inembers having notches receiving said spring and slidingly engaging the spring to permit ofthev push button mo'vem'ents of said push button;

14. .In a switch of the character described,

a, rotatably 'supported push button, a Vcon'- tact carried by said push button, a yielding contact beneath; the push button and disposed to'be engaged bythe push button contact in the rotation ofsaid push button andanther contact disposed Vat a relatively 'lower eleyation ,than fthe' yielding contact in position to lbe "engaged bythe push' butfV ton-[contact th PuShmyemntsoffthe 'j'a rotatablefpush'f button', alfcontact t onf. lthe 4underside lfof-saidush 'button,gajrelatrely iitact; n'etli the pushzfbutton toiv-bej-ngaged-#by .said ct position' tor'be' enf of the base in the push-button movements ofv fp j: jf' .the push-button and -with certain other'of button.

12. In a switch of the the contacts in the rotary movement of the'f' vided with ignition circuit' terminals, offk rotatably mounted push bntton,.zi..coi'itac segment carried by said pu'sh button, lighting contacts for engagement by said se,a ,'inetY provided with lighting circuit 'terminalsg'a'gcurrent supplying contact normally in en#` gagcinent with thc segment and electrically connected with one of theig ,iiitioi'1'contacts-4 and a signal contact disposed at a' lower"V elevation than said current supplying'contact so as to be engaged by said contact seg-.

nient onlyv when thc pressed. r 153. In a switch of the character described,

character di= iscribecl',f`- the-combination with ignition contacts prof.

y. ,-g-,Suii-Prti-nelthef Fish" am with fthe' ieoataetithereoa ma;` o en- .i i .100 'Centif-d means 'yieldingly' Holding f thqj push puttcn-"finji different",

support o heiiisu tinglbase-'andhavling a'jri-mpoitionby" be' mantiene; banca-1 "nl atiligibasewtliinthe rim of the 'usb-but; .m '"fvmslly 'Supporting-1. the Pil button in npraised! position and' engaged. by the the insulatingbasc"within the rim and-fdisposed in positonto bei engaged by the pushiso button contact n the push movements of said push button.

1S. ln a switch of the character described,

an insulating supporting base, having a substantially cylindrical portion, a push button having a dependent rim covering the substantially cylindrical portion of the base and providing a finger hold by which the push button may be rotated, a stud rotatably confining the push button on the insulating base, and permitting a limited reciprocating increment of the push button on the base, a. spring member on the base engaging the under side of the push button to normally hold thenszune projected to the extent permitted the securing means aforesaid. a contact on the under side of the push button and a contact on the-baseV in position to be engaged by the push button contact when said push button is depressed and contacts carried by the base and ntton adapted to be engaged by the rotary movements of the but-ton on the base.

19. A switclrof the character set forth comprising a base, an operating member rotata ly confined to said base and capable of push-button movements in respect thereto, a set of push-button contacts brought into engagement by the push-button movements of said operating member, and contact elements engaged by the rotary movement of the operating member independently of said push-button action.

20. A control-swtch comprising an insulating base, a rotatable push-button rotatably conned to said base, and capable -of bodily push-button movements in respect thereto, a contact onthe base,'a contact carried by the push-button and brought into engagement with said contact on the base by the push-button movements of said butt0n, means foryieldingly supporting the push-button with said contacts normally separated, a second contact on the base and. a contact connected with the push-button and 4carried thereby in the rotary movements thereof into engagement with the second contact on the base.

2l. A switch of the character set forth comprising a base, an operating member ro tatably confined to said base and capable of push-button movements in respect thereto,.a set ofpush-button contacts brought into engagement bythe push-button movements of said operating member, contact elements ent gaged by the rotary movements of theoperating member independently of said pushbutton action, means' for yieldingly supporting the operating member with said push-button contacts normally disengaged and means for retaining the operating member in the position to which it isfrotated,

22. A switch of the character set forth com rising a base, an operating member rotata ly confined to said base and capable Iof push-button movements in respect thereto, a set of pushbutton contacts brought into engagement by the push-button movement of said operating member, contact elements engaged by the rotary movement of the operating member independently of said push-button action, and means for limiting the rotary and push-button move-ments of the operatmg member on the base.

23. A control switch comprising an insulating base, a rotatable push-button rota! tably confined to said base, and capable of bodily push-button movements in respect thereto, a contact on the' base, a contact carried by the push-button and brought. into engagement with said contact on the base by the push-button movements of said button, means for yieldingly supporting the pushbutton `with said contacts normally separated, a series of contacts on the base and a contact connected Vwith the push-but i ton ,and carried vthereby in the rotary movements thereof intol engagement' \1 ri th the` contacts of saidseries. t

24.. A controlswitch comprising a base, a rotatable push-button, means for rotatably and reciprocably confining said ash-button to theY base, a set of contacts n carried into engagement by the push-button movements of* sald push' button means for yieldingly-support'in' the push-button with -said contacts norma ydisengaged and a pted to be' adapted to permit o'f-a limitedmovement of the button towardand away from the base, contacts adapted to' beforced 4into engagement by the button in the push'but-ton move.

ments thereof, means for yleldingly supporting the button'with said contacts normally disengaged, and a set of contacts having' an element connected witli' and operated by the button in the rotary4 movements thereof.

26. A control switch comprising a base, a push b utton having anexposed push but-ton' topsurface and4 in addition means for rotating the button, means for rotatably confining the button to the base adapted to permit of a -limited movement of the button toward and away from the base, contacts adapted to be forced into engagement by the button in the ush button movements thererxf,4 means for yieldingly supporting the button with said contacts normally disengaged, and a set of contacts havin an element connected with'and operate by the button in the rotary movements thereof.

27. A control switch comprising a base', a rotatable push-button, means for rotatably and reciprocably confining said push-button to the base, a set of contacts adapted to be Vcarried into engagement by the push-button movements of said push-button, means for yieldingly supporting the push-button with said contacts normally disengaged, a secon set of contacts having one element thereof connected with the push-button and operated thereby in the rotary movements of such push-button,` and'a dependent rim portion on the button substantially inclosing the contacts.

28. A control switch comprising an insulating base, a rotatable push-button rotatably confined to said base, and capable of bodily push-button movements in respect thereto, a contact on the base, disposed beneath the central portion of the button, a

centrally located contact portion on the button for .engagement therewith, a radially projecting contact portion connected with the button and movable therewith in the rotary movements of the button and a con-l tact on the base for engagement by said radially projecting contact portion in the rotary movement of the button.

29. A control switch comprising a base, a rotatable push-button, means for rotatably and reciprocably confining said push-button to the base, a set of contacts adapted to be carried into engagement by the push-button movements of said push-button, means for yieldinglysupporting the push-button with said contacts normal y disengaged, a second set of contacts having one clement thereof connected with the push-button and operated thereby in the rotary movements of such push-button, and means for securing said control switch on the steering column of an automobile.

' JOHN F. 'CAVANAGH. 

